Dark Atoms and Dark Radiation

Call for Papers

Modern astronomical observations prove that dark matter and dark energy are the bedrocks of the modern theory of the Universe. These phenomena cannot be grounded in the known laws of physics, and they call for hypothetical new particles and fields predicted by extensions of the Standard Model of particle physics. In the context of cosmology, dark matter stems from the processes in the early Universe that create this new form of matter, which is then sufficiently stable to survive to the present day. In the context of particle theory, the stability of dark matter implies new conservation laws, resulting from new fundamental symmetries.

The simplest candidates for dark matter, such as neutral Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs), have trouble explaining the results of direct and indirect experimental searches for dark matter particles as well as the astronomical observations of dark matter. This is why a wide variety of other solutions for the dark matter problem are being considered, and composite dark matter, made of dark atoms, is of special interest among them, challenging both experimental studies and theoretical research.

We invite investigators to contribute original research and review articles that seek to define the possible physical nature of composite dark matter and its constituents, to stimulate the experimental searches, and to suggest astrophysical tests for their effects. Potential topics include, but are not limited to: